An lively investigation is underway in Southern California for a lacking man that police are calling a “suspicious disappearance.”
Investigators with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Division launched new info within the hopes of finding Naiping Hou, a 74-year-old resident of Rancho Cucamonga.
He was reported lacking by his household on Might 4, 2025, in response to authorities.
Investigators found “extensive fraudulent activity” in Hou’s financial institution accounts across the time he disappeared.
Officers stated his cellphone was additionally utilized by unknown particular person(s) to impersonate him in communications with relations.
Authorities at the moment are suspecting he could have been kidnapped.
Members of the family of Hou informed KABC that they consider the incident may very well be related to their monetary success within the cryptocurrency trade, and are providing a $250,000 reward in hopes of securing his secure return.
“I miss him dearly,” stated Wen Hou, referring to his father, Naiping Hou. “He’s always been a guiding presence in my life.”
Wen Hou, who the outlet reported amassed vital wealth by means of cryptocurrency and beforehand donated $1.1 million to USC’s Keck Faculty of Medication for coronary heart illness analysis, suspects somebody could have stolen his father’s identification and drained over $1 million from his financial institution accounts.
He additionally believes the individual accountable has been pretending to be his father, utilizing textual content messages to speak with the household beneath false pretenses.
“It’s surreal to think someone could be impersonating my dad through text,” Wen Hou defined.
In keeping with Wen Hou, the unusual collection of occasions could have began in January 2025, when his father was overseeing residence renovations following a extreme water leak.
“He didn’t raise any red flags at the time. We knew he was getting quotes from various contractors,” Wen Hou recalled. “He was temporarily living in an apartment covered by insurance, so he wasn’t hands-on with the daily construction work.”
After the home was repaired in March, Nai Ping joined Wen and a bunch of pals for a fishing journey, the place all the things “seemed normal,” till issues took a dramatic flip.
“Something really bizarre is going on,” Wen Hou stated. “The place was completely cleared out. No people, no vehicles, not even garbage left behind.”
The household later realized that a number of of Naiping Hou’s financial institution accounts had been emptied, with over $1 million lacking.
“Funds were being transferred out to purchase gold online,” Wen Hou defined, including that his father’s accounts have been additionally used to purchase cryptocurrency and huge gold bars. “He’s not tech-savvy at all, so I don’t know how he could’ve done any of that himself.”
“We’re really worried, and we really want my dad back,” he continued.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Division is asking the general public for assist to seek out Naiping Hou.
He’s described as an Asian male, 5’7″ tall, weighing roughly 170 kilos.
He has black hair, black eyes, and has a birthmark on his left higher shoulder.
Moreover, investigators are searching for details about a silver Toyota Yaris in reference to Hou’s disappearance.
“There’s been a significant amount of unauthorized activity in his bank accounts,” Mara Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s division informed KABC. “We’re deeply concerned for his well-being and focused on bringing him home safely.”
In keeping with an internet site devoted to the seek for Naiping Hou, he’s initially from China and is a husband, father, and grandfather who’s semi-retired.
He’s stated to spend his time “woodworking, playing ping pong at a local recreation center, and staying active in his community.”
“The Hou family has long been committed to hard work, family values, and giving back—making generous contributions to education and public safety organizations as part of their dedication to helping others,” a press release on the web site reads.
Anybody with details about this case is urged to contact Detective Vanayes Quezada, Specialised Investigations Division, at (909) 890-4848.
